July 9, 2015
If you work with computers and computer files on a regular basis, the most important thing you can do is backup your files. The odds are that at some point you will experience a hard drive crash or a virus/malware infection that could possibly destroy all of your files.
This tip is unique in that, we are not going to talk about how to backup your files, instead we will be discussing how to prepare for a successful backup. These tips will make your backup thorough, complete, and trouble free.
David's 5 Tips for Preparing for a Successful Backup
1. Before you start a backup, you need to clean up your file folders.
2. Make a backup of all of your Browser Bookmarks.
3. make sure all of your files are located in a specific location.
4. Determine the size of your files.
5. Determine your backup medium.
Important stuff:
- If you don't know how to backup files, find a youtube video, instructional web page, ask a friend or pay someone to set up and show you how. It's that important!
- Even if you work in an environment that does backups, make your own! Remember, it is your data, you are responsible for it, and you will be the one crying if everything is lost!
- Test your backups. A backup isn't any good if you can't use it.
- Periodically review your backup policies. You might need/want to tweak them. Update your bookmark backups, etc. You might have old files that can be archived on CD/DVD and deleted from the hard drive.
Great advice to take to heart!
So what are you waiting for?
Time to prepare for that backup!
Length: 16:00
May 28, 2015
Snipping Tool is a software app that allows you to take a snapshot of your desktop screen, a window on your desktop or the contents of your entire desktop.
Snipping tool is a free utility application that comes with standard installations of Windows 7 and Windows 8. In Windows 7 click: Start > All Programs > Accessories > Snipping Tool.
(With Windows 8, press the Win Key and type Snipping Tool)
What is so great about Snipping Tool? Many people have a need for taking a “snapshot” of any number of things on their computer. Especially if you are creating a “howto” document.
Windows Snipping Tool has the following options:
If you are going to use snipping tool a lot, I suggest you pin it to the Windows Taskbar, that way it is always available and a one click execute.
When you get ready to take a screenshot, just click on Snipping Tool. The snipping tool window will pop up and your cursor will become an active selection cursor depending on which mode you are in. You then select or choose the portion of the screen you would like to capture.
Once you have snipped all or a portion of your screen (or Window), the Snipping Tool Window opens. In the snipping tool window, you have a pen, a highlighter and an eraser to use to edit the image. The pen is a free form drawing tool as is the highlighter. These tools, although simple, allow you to circle, underline, highlight & markup the file as you see fit. You do not have a lot of editing features. Snipping Tool is a simple tool, but it is very effective.
After you have edited the file, you have the option of saving it. The file can be saved in three popular graphic file formats:
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PNG (Portable Network Graphic)
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GIF (Graphic Interchange Format)
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JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
Or as a single HTML file (MHT file to be opened in a web browser) (This is not an easily edited format. Used mostly for archive purposes).
After you save the file, it is ready to be used as is any graphic file.
Review:
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Snipping Tool is a free, quick and easy tool for Microsoft OS users to create graphic images of anything on their desktop.
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It comes as a standard installed utility in Windows 7 and later OSs.
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It is found in the Accessories menu under the Start Menu.
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It saves “snips” in three popular graphic file formats (& MHT format).
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It has a pen and highlighter for basic editing (highlighting).
Target audience: Anyone that creates “howto” documents, technical documents or reference material.
Follow David on his Technology Blog
Length: 10:29
April 23, 2015
Today on
Quick Tech Tip David and I talk about… How to Avoid Junkware…
Does
junkware drive you nuts?!
It does me!
You know
what I’m talking about …as David says, “…the 3rd party software
offers…click and suddenly you have any number of unwanted stuff on your
computer.”
David notes,
“You go to install legitimate software and then…the installation by default
adds something unwanted!”
I think we
have all had issues with this headache…especially me…
Listen as
David gives you his …
5 Steps to Avoiding Junkware
1. Download from a reliable source
2. Beware of fake download buttons
3. Be alert during the software
installation
4. De-select any options to install
additional software
5. When in doubt don’t do it!
Enjoy!
And just say
no to clicking on those download buttons!
Length:
12:20
January 22, 2015
Today we are
talking about Word Pad and why you would want to know how to use it.
Often
computer users think that they need to have Microsoft Office when there are
many tools that help make it possible to read and create documents without have
the Office Suite.
Word pad is
one of those tools.
During the interview David refers to how to find Word Pad and what it looks like. There are several screenshots that follow that will help you follow his directions to find and use Word Pad.
This is the
first appearance of our new segment called Quick Tech Tips.
David is the
Technology Director for the Heart of Georgia RESA.
He
specializes in Linux and open source systems.
Once a month
we will have a Quick Tech Tip segment.
It will last
approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
David will
select a topic that has been on the mind of many or frequently asked by teachers, administrators and community members.
The idea is
to provide support for teachers and administrators with a “Quick Tip”.
If you have
a tech question for David to answer please email me at smiletto.hg@gmail.com
David is
also a musician and a blogger.
Check out
his tech blog and his social media presence for his music world.
Enjoy!
http://hgresatech.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MagnoliaMedicineShow
http://mmmedicineshow.wix.com/mmms
Length 17:16
